This year is starting just as 2024 finished for Jason Lee - with a flurry of feature races.

It continues this weekend when he and his broader Lee/Craven clan chase feature races across two nights and two states.

While stable star Keayang Zahara builds towards a racetrack return, most likely late next month, the team still has plenty of other classy pacers and trotters to fly the flag.

It starts at Geelong on Friday night where they will be key players in both the Geelong Pacing Cup and McNamara Trotters' Cup.

Lee will then fly to Sydney on Saturday morning to drive Keayang Chucky in the $100,000 Group 1 Yabby Dam Farms Hammerhead Trotters' Mile at Menangle that night.

“It’s an exciting and busy weekend,” Lee said. “We’ve got horses good enough to win all three if things go right.”

Let’s start at Geelong where the lightly-raced Keayang Tokyo, a winner of nine of his 15 starts, gets the chance for his biggest victory so far from barrier one in the $40,000 Group 3 APCO Geelong Cup (2570m).

“We’ve got a good opinion of him,” Lee said. “We thought about taking him to Sydney to have a crack at the Miracle Mile qualifiers (last week), but just felt staying home to target this race was best for him at this stage.

“He was terrific in the Terang Cup against Dont Stop Dreaming and then he just wasn’t quite at his top last week, but still ran a good race.

“He had a few issues tying up after Terang and missed a bit of work, which meant he just needed that run last week.

“I’m sure he’ll be better this week, and he’s got the draw to be right in it.”

Keayang Tokyo has the barrier draw advantage on his major rivals like Mach Dan (gate two), who is going for his third successive Geelong Cup win, Victoria Cup winner Act Now (three) and high-class mare Rakero Rebel (six).

“I want to try and use the draw. He’s got good early speed and, if he feels good in the warm-up, plan A will be to try and hold the lead, at least early on,” Lee said.

“It’s a good race and another step-up for him, but I’m sure he’s good enough to be right in the finish if he runs up to what he did at Terang.”

Classy mare Aldebaran Vera is Lee’s chance in the Haras Des Trotteurs McNamara Trotters' Cup.

The daughter of Trixton, who was placed in two of her three Inter Dominion heats in December, returned to her best with a massive win in the Ararat Trotters' Cup last Friday.

Aldebaran Vera not only overcame a 40m handicap, but was at least 60m off the leader once the field settled down.

“We thought about taking her up to the Group 1 (Hammerhead) in Sydney with Keayang Chucky, but this suits her better,” he said.

“It’s still a strong race in itself, but she’s back to her best and is one of the top hopes.”

Keayang Chucky returns to Menangle for the first time since finishing second to The Locomotive in the Inter Dominion final on December 14.

“The Inter Dominion series was still a bit of a stepping stone for him and I’d say he’s come through a five to 10 per cent better horse,” he said.

“He’s at the top of his game and, while we took a sit in the Inter Dominion final, if we find the front this week, we can’t die wondering.

“Hopefully we can cross Oscar Bonavena and then I’ll be keen to hold out The Locomotive to see exactly where we are at.”

Keayang Chucky (gate five) is one of three Victorians in the race, along with upset Great Southern Star winner Watts Up Partytime (gate 10) and the speedy Aldebaran Zeus (four).